What I’ve learned from 10 years of blogging on mutuality
After 10 years of blogging, the most important thing I’ve learned from listening to readers’ questions has little to do with the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:12 or Ephesians 5:22ff.
4 obscure passages sometimes used to diminish women
In this article, I look at 4 passages from the Hebrew Bible (Leviticus 27, Numbers 30, Ecclesiastes 7:28, Isaiah 3:12) which are sometimes used to diminish women.
Valiant or Virtuous? by Suzanne McCarthy
Here is a short review of Suzanne McCarthy’s book, Valiant or Virtuous?: Gender Bias in Bible Translation. Her book is on a topic close to my heart.
3 reasons why it’s a woman, not all women, in 1 Timothy 2:12
Here are 3 reasons why 1 Timothy 2:12 may be about a particular couple in the Ephesian church and not Paul’s general thoughts on women in ministry.
Manhood and Masculinity in the ESV
The word “manhood” occurs twice in the English Standard Version. Does this word convey what Paul wanted to say in Eph. 4:13? In what other ways does the ESV create a masculine bias.
The Holy Spirit and Eve as Helpers
The role of the Holy Spirit as helper (given in John’s Gospel) does not inform our understanding of Eve as helper/ ezer (in Genesis 2), and vice versa. Here’s why.
Olympias: Deaconess and Chrysostom’s Friend
Olympias renounced her aristocratic lifestyle to serve the church. She was an ordained deaconess and Chrysostom’s dear friend.
Women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting
Who were the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting and what did they do? Did their service involve religious rituals?
Head Coverings and 1 Corinthians 11:2–16
Do women need to cover their heads in church meetings? What does Paul say about this in 1 Cor. 11:2–16? What were the customs of head coverings in Corinth?
Tabitha: An Exemplary Disciple (Acts 9:36-42)
Tabitha (AKA Dorcas) is identified as a disciple and described as a generous supporter of the poor. What was her association with the widows of Joppa?
A List of the 29 People in Romans 16:1-16
Twenty-nine people are mentioned in Romans 16:1-16, including ten women, seven of whom are described in terms of their ministries.
Partnering Together: Paul’s Female Coworkers
Paul included women as ministry partners and used the same ministry terms for his male and female coworkers. He didn’t restrict the ministry of godly and gifted women.
Partnering Together: Jesus and Women
At a time when women were often regarded as odd and inferior by men and were excluded from many aspects of society, Jesus included women, taught them, and accepted their ministry.
Partnering Together: Agents of Jesus
This post is an excerpt from a talk I gave at a camp for high-school girls. It’s about understanding and accepting our mission as agents of Jesus.
The Significance of the Created Order, in a Nutshell
The creation order given in Genesis 2 is often brought up in discussions about ministry and marriage. What significance did Paul place on man being created first?
The Household Codes are Primarily about Power
The household codes in Eph. 5-6 and Col. 3-4 are not about gender but primarily about power and about mitigating abuse that often comes with power.
Jealousy and Bitter Water (Numbers 5:11-31)
Numbers 5:11-31 outlines the ordeal of bitter water which was designed to test, or prove, the fidelity of a wife suspected by her jealous husband of being unfaithful.
Marcella of Rome: Academic and Ascetic
Here’s some information about Marcella of Rome (325–410), friend of Jerome, who dedicated her considerable talents and resources to serving the church and helping the poor.
My Top Posts in 2018
For the few who may be interested, here’s a short post with some of my website stats for 2018. It includes a brief list of my top posts in 2018.
Periods of Purification after Childbirth (Leviticus 12:1–8)
Why does Leviticus 12 say a mother is unclean for 7 days after the birth of a son but is unclean for 14 days after the birth of a daughter? Why the difference?
Book Review: For Such a Time
How did God respond when women took the lead? In his book For Such a Time, Ed Dickerson answers this question by looking at the stories of enterprising women in the Bible. Here is a short review of his book.